Health Industry Forum

March 30, 2011

ACO Development: Policy Meets Reality

In anticipation of new proposed federal rules for Accountable Care Organizations (released on March 31, 2011) this Forum analyzed key policy and program design issues based on the experience of health systems that were currently participating in the Physician Group Practice demonstration. Participants analyzed the impact of existing PGP rules related to patient attribution, risk adjustment and shared savings formulas, and made recommendations for improvements that should be incorporated in the new Medicare Shared Savings Program. Several health systems discussed the opportunities and challenges presented by these new programs within their own markets, and key stakeholders debated the potential for savings under this new model for health service delivery.

Agenda

Participants

Conference Report

Presentations

Can The U.S. Control Healthcare Spending: Will ACO’s Help?
Stuart Altman, PhD, Professor of National Health Policy, Brandeis University

CMS-ACO Transitions Program
Thomas Graf, MD, Chairman, Community Practice, Geisinger Health System

Summa Health System presentation
Michael Hillman, MD, MBA, Chief Medical and Quality Officer, Summa Health System

NTSP presentation
Ira Hollander, MD, President, North Texas Specialty Physicians

CMS Demonstration at Dartmouth-Hitchcock
Barbara Walters, DO, MBA, Senior Medical Director, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center

PPO Attribution for Global Payment
Matthew Day, Senior Director, Provider Financial Management, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts

ACO Attribution: Consumers at the Center of Care
Joe Baker, President, Medicare Rights Center